Iowa's Jay Higgins (34) tackles a Purdue ball carrier on Nov. 5, 2022 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. (Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com)
Iowa Post-Spring Position Analysis: LB/Cash
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Iowa Football experienced a rarity last season. Its three starting linebackers were named to the Butkus Award watch list, which is given to the nation's top player at the position.
Middle man, Jack Campbell, won it. He and MIKE, Seth Benson, have been preparing for next week's NFL Draft. The third starter, Jestin Jacobs, transferred to Oregon.
A drop-off at the position seems likely considering the talent level of the departures. Campbell is one of the best linebackers in program history. Benson is all-Big Ten. Jacobs is a future NFL player.
Time will tell how much of a drop-off, if there is one. The cupboard is not bare, to be sure.
Senior Jay Higgins (6-2, 229) returns after working his way up the depth chart. He played in 26 games during the last two seasons, starting two contests at linebacker in '22. He registered 29.0 tackles last Fall, including 1.5 for loss.
Higgins brings versatility. That's the case with incoming Virginia transfer Nick Jackson (6-1, 235).
The Atlanta native announced he was coming to Iowa in early February. He's been finishing up school at UVA this semester.
Jackson started 33 of a possible 48 games with the Cavaliers. He recorded at least 100 tackles during each of the last three seasons. The Virginia staff lined him up at different spots, and he made plays.
The versatility of Jackson and Higgins allows the coaches to experiment with different alignments during Fall camp. They also can find out how that duo meshes with starting Cash, Sebastian Castro, and the other linebackers.
Iowa employed more of its 4-2-5 alignment with the Cash position after Jacobs was lost for the season due to injury. The hard-hitting Castro (5-11, 207) improved as the season advanced, holding up well against the pass and the run.
At least early in the season, it wouldn't be surprising to see Castro, Higgins and Jackson consuming a lot of reps together. The amount of opponents playing power football dwindles each year.
At linebacker, senior walk-on Kyler Fisher (5-11, 229) has stood out on special teams and picked up some work on defense. Nobody else on the roster has received significant time at linebacker.
Several sophomores are trying to separate themselves. That group includes Jaden Harrell, Zach Twedt, Karson Sharar, Eric Epenesa and Kelby Telander. The last two guys are walk-ons.
Harrell lined up at middle linebacker with Higgins on the weak-side during open spring practice on Saturday. Higgins also played in the middle at times during the workout.
Sharar was slowed by injury in the Spring. He's shown a skill set that could work well at LEO. Castro's emergence last season provided time for Sharar to acclimate to game action if necessary in '23.
A 4-3 alignment of Jackson (WIL), Higgins (MIKE) and Sharar (LEO) might be a starting point in August. Jaxon Rexroth is developing nicely and could be behind Castro at Cash.
Redshirt freshmen linebackers Landyn Van Kekerix and Jayden Montgomery should be more comfortable going through their second camp. Incoming freshmen Ben Kueter from Iowa City High is advanced physically and could push for playing time on defense and special teams.
